Communication ways on different steps

No matter what kind of products, customers and suppliers always need communication to reach agreement and to push the project moving forward. Everybody knows some communication skills more or less; here I would like to say the communication ways on different steps during custom makeup brushes.

 

For the customers who would like to custom makeup brushes with complex and special design, it is better to communicate via email at the beginning. As it is hard to clearly express the design on the phone, also due to the language limit of both sides, it may cause misunderstanding on the phone. While by email, both sides will have enough time to read and understand the meaning. So at the beginning, customers and suppliers should communicate by email.

 

Once both sides reach agreement on the design, the makeup brush manufacturers will need to quote according to the design; both sides need to discuss on the delivery time and payment terms etc. At this step, emails will also be better than phone. As emails are traceable once if any side forget the terms, and emails can also be a proof if any conflict arise. Anyway, if any side would like to move quicker, it is great to set up a call to discuss details. The price, delivery time and payment terms can all be discussed on the phone to push the ball roll quirkier. But all discussion results on the phone should be finalized and confirmed by both sides via email in case of any misunderstanding or conflict.

 

Once the production is finished, manufacturers can call or email customers to arrange the shipment. After the shipment is sent out, it will be great if manufacturers can call or email customers to notify the related information or tracking number. Once customers receive the shipment, a call or email will be essential to notify such receiving.

 

If customers find any quality problem with guarantee period and would like to resolve such problem quickly, call the manufacturers to notify such problem is good, but a written email should also be followed.

 

Now emails have play an important role in international business, for anything urgent, it is ok to set up a call, but everything that needs confirmation or finalization should be via email or written letters.

The hair thickness of makeup brushes

For custom makeup brushes, customers usually send us the brushes they would like to order and require us to exact copy the brushes.

 

It is easy to check if the color is the same as original brushes; if the logo is the same as original; if handle length/thickness, ferrule length/thickness and hair length is the same… all of the above can be judged by visual observations. While some can not, for example, customers can not judge if the hair material is the same as original, they have to touch and feel the hairs to check the softness etc. However, few customers can recognize the exact hair material just through feeling and touching.

 

Hairs are the most difficult during customers’ inspection, besides the hair material, hair thickness is also very difficult to evaluate. Some customers believe that they can judge the hair thickness by holding the hairs. But as professional makeup brush manufacturer, we know that judgment on hair thickness is more difficult than hair material.

 

Firstly, most customers just evaluate the thickness by hands/eyes which can not show the exact hair thickness unless the difference is very obvious. The makeup brush factory usually inspects the hair thickness by the diameter of the ferrule that connects the hairs, but some brushes are fluffy while some are dense. In this case, if customers judge by shape, the brushes are the same, but if judge by holding the brushes, they will feel the obvious difference.

 

Secondly, the hair material will also affect the hair thickness. Some customers send us their existing brushes to us but they do not like their hair material, so they require us to change to a better hair material without any size change. We make samples exactly according to their size (same ferrule diameter, same density), but they insist that our samples are not as thick as their original brushes. In fact, that is because our hair material is much better and softer than their brushes, so even if with the same hair amount, our brushes may not feel so thick. The experienced customers and manufacturers will know that better hairs are softer and slimmer than worse hairs.

 

We really hope that our customers can judge from different aspects during evaluating our samples, after all, personal feeling is not so accurate, although we will always try our best to meet customers’ every requirement, it is really hard for us to produce makeup brushes just according to customers’ personal feeling.

The goat hair color

It is know that the brush hair can be dyed to various colors to meet customers’ different requirements during custom makeup brushes. Generally, the powder brushes and blush brushes are made of goat hair and usually in black, so some believe that the original color of goat hair is black.

 

It is really a misunderstanding. The original goat hair is white; you can see the hair on goats. And its original color is not pure white but with light yellow. Such color seems not so clean, so some makeup brush manufacturers choose to dye the hair to dark color to cover the light yellow, for example, black, red, brown. However, there are some customers who really like white color, then the goat hair will be bleached to pure white.

 

In fact, even if the natural goat hair is not in pure color, it is very clean once used on makeup brushes. After cutting from the goats, the hair will be sterilized &boiled to kill the virus and bacterial, and then sell to the makeup brush factory to manufacturer the makeup brushes. Therefore, although not so beautiful, it is just as safe as other colors and will not be harm to human skin.

 

That is why some customers prefer natural hair color for their brushes. They believe that without any dyeing, the brushes with natural hair color are much better than those brushes have been dyed to many colors.

 

Anyway, the hair color really depends on customers’ personal preference, for the makeup brush manufacturers, it makes no difference to have natural color or any dyed color.

Label or tag on makeup brushes

For those customers who just enter into makeup brush industry and have no idea on which brushes are good, they usually require samples with various materials to check which brushes are ok for them. But if makeup brush manufacturers just put all kinds of brushes together in boxes without any explanation or illustration, it will be somewhat nonsense to send the samples.

To help customers exactly understand the difference between different materials, we should put a label /tag on each brush to specify its material of each part, just like: ZGF goat hair, copper ferrule, wooden handle. In this way, once customers receiving the samples, they can know the material difference by viewing and touching. They will know that ZGF goat hair is much softer than HJG goat hair, copper ferrule is shinning than aluminum ferrule; and wooden handle is more proper for their application….Then, the following communication will be much easier, if they decide to custom makeup brushes, they will tell the makeup brush manufacturer the exact material they need.

Just one thing during labeling, do not directly affix the label with glue or adhesive tape on brushes, otherwise, after being removed, the labels will leave ugly glue remnants on brushes, which may affect customers’ quality evaluation. So we should pack each brush with an OPP bag, and affix the label on the OPP bag, then customers can easily remove the label without leaving any remnants.

Although the makeup brush manufacturers take some time during labeling, you will finally realize that such time is really worthwhile, and will make your following communication smoother and quicker.

About refund of the sample fee

When customizing makeup brushes, customers usually will require samples before batch order. Since they can not guarantee that they will finally place orders, the makeup brush manufacturers will charge sample fees and promise that the sample fee will be refunded to customers after receiving orders.

 

However, the precondition of the refund is the order quantity should meet the MOQ requirement. For example, our MOQ is 500pcs each. We clarify this requirement to customers at the very beginning, and they show no objection and require samples at first with USD100.0. While after confirming samples, they say they can only order 300pcs each. Normally we will not accept so few quantities, while after long time negotiation and considering it is the first cooperation, we finally agree with 300pcs each. But at this situation, we will not refund the sample fee.

 

Also, we may not refund the sample fee if any condition changes. For example, payment terms changes from 100% prepay to 20% prepay; the unit price reduces from USD10.0 to USD9.5 etc.

 

Anyway, if all conditions are kept as original, we will certainly fulfill our promise. Sometimes, customers forget the sample fee they have paid, we always remind them to deduct the sample fee from the payment after getting their orders. We are professional and reliable makeup brush factory, our aim is to establish long term cooperation with customers instead of destroy our fames by so few sample fee. While to get the refund of sample fee, customers also need to keep all their original conditions.

The bronze powder on brush handles

These days, we are making some prototypes for a customer who would like to have brush handles in different color. Since the customer has not finalized the color they prefer, we can not buy paintings with each color which will be a huge cost. Therefore, to show customers the effect of each color, we spray some bronze powders instead on the brush handles and plan to send them to customers for confirmation.

 

While our ideas are obstructed once we send the prototypes. According to our local FedEx, the products with powders are not permitted to ship via air, unless the powders are certificated to be harmless. While the certification cost is too high and once the customer confirm the demand color, we will use painting on the brush handles instead of powder, so it is not worthwhile to do such certificate for so few prototypes. After communicating with customer on such situation, we have to give up such ideas and try to find out another option.

 

However, it does not mean that makeup brushes can not have powders on. To reach certain effect, during custom makeup brush, some customers will require some bronze powders on the brush handles. So the makeup brush manufacturers will mix the powders into the paintings and then do the painting on the handles. At this situation, the powders become a part of the painting, enter into the painting and will not fall down, so not need to do the certification.

 

As a professional makeup brush manufacturer, we always try our best to meet customers’ requirements, while sometimes we can not control everything. For example, we have to follow the instruction of the express company during shipment. So if customers plan to send us some samples or prototypes with bronze powders to show what kind of makeup brushes they need, please do remember to check with the local shipping company to confirm if it is ok, otherwise, even if the samples can be sent from shipper, the consignee may not be able to receive them due to their local regulation.

The size of makeup brush bag

Most customers will require makeup brush bag/roll for their brushes during custom makeup brushes. While some customers may only need 3-4 brushes including a normal powder brush, an eye brush and a lip brush; some will require more than 30 brushes which include all brushes for specific application.

So some customers will have such misunderstanding that if they only need 3-4 brush types in a set, the makeup brush manufacturer will not be able to offer the brush bag. In fact, it is very easy for us to modify the size of the brush bag, roll or container according to the brushes included.

For example, if customers like a bag style which originally includes 20 brushes, but they just want 10 brushes included. It is totally no problem for us to change the bag to the required size without any extra charge.

Some may wonder if the cost will also change according to the bag size. The answer is YES. But it depends, for example, the cost of the bag for 3 brushes and 20 brushes will certainly vary a lot, but the cost for 18brushes and 20 brushes will be almost the same. Customers should communicate with the makeup brush factory base on different situation.

To custom makeup brush bag, customers should have a clear idea on the bag style/design, and the exact brushes included, then express all these details to the makeup brush manufacturer. With this information, the professional manufacturer will know how to revise the bag size and offer the exact and proper bag for the customers.

How to take makeup brush picture

During custom makeup brushes, we usually send real samples for customers’ confirmation. While sometimes, due to the expensive international shipping charge or urgent delivery, customers may require picture confirmation via email. That is, once the samples are finished, the makeup brush manufacturer takes photos of the samples and then sends the pictures to customers for their confirmation.

 

Since pictures are not real samples, the makeup brush manufacturer should try best to clearly show each detail of the brushes, for example, the size, the outline and the color etc via pictures.

 

Firstly, we should put a ruler or measuring tool beside the brushes and then take a picture of the whole brush, which can show the size of each brush part. Secondly, a close-up sequences for each part- the brush head, the ferrule and the handle. Ensure such close-up can clearly show the characters of each part; if handles with logo on, close-up for the logo is also essential to show its position and effect on the handle. Thirdly, if possible, take photos for the brushes from different visual angle- overlook/side-look etc, just do all efforts to show all aspects and characters of the brushes via pictures.

 

The purpose of the brush pictures is to show the actual brushes situation to customers, so should no Photoshop or any prettification on the pictures, otherwise, the picture confirmation will be nonsense.

 

The limit of picture confirmation is that some customers can not feel the brush material, for example, whether the hair is soft or not? The ferrule is copper or ferrule? Or the handle is wooden or bamboo or plastic? Anyway, if the customers are professional, they can judge the brush material from the pictures, which is why we can quote according to pictures. As professional makeup brush factory, we can judge the material from pictures as long as the pictures are clear enough.

Current situation of makeup brush industry

In the passed month-May, I really felt the sluggish demand of the makeup brush market.

 

Such sluggish can be seen from the inquiry situation. In February to April, we received new inquiries every day from new customers all over the world, sometimes, 3-4 inquiries every day. While in May, we even got no new inquiry within 7 days, our daily work was just on the normal customers.

 

I am not sure about the situation of other makeup brush manufacturers, maybe some are better than us, some are even worse! The continuous financial crisis firstly did not affect so much on makeup brush industry, but now, it seems that the influence has somewhat come to more and more industry.

 

Now, more and more Chinese factories have to stop production as with no orders, although most of them have tried best to survive in such financial crisis, the worldwide economy just keeps slowdown to wash out those factories that are not so strong.

 

Although our current situation is not as good as before; although the inquiries to custom makeup brushes become fewer and fewer everyday; although the orders are not so many as before; although the customers’ order quantity become less; as a professional makeup brush factory, we will hold on, keep improving our brush quality, increase our market competitiveness and wait for the spring of worldwide economy.

 

We hope and believe the situation will be better sooner or later.